From Pedestals to Peace: Lessons In Humility
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Welcome to our second week of Summer Book Reviews! Read on for the next set of books from my shelf so far this year, and don’t forget to submit a review of a book you’ve read recently for a chance to be featured in one of the next installments.
Gentle and Lowly, by Dane Ortlund
Read this spring, borrowed the hard copy courtesy of my dear friend Anna’s little library.
This is one of the most peaceful books I’ve ever read--the kind that you literally feel calmer when reading, which is hard to find. Written by a pastor and theologian (of the well-respected and accomplished Ortlund family), its focus is on the character of Jesus; particularly, based on his statement that he is “gentle and lowly.”
I first picked it up because my friend Anna spoke so highly of it, and I knew the Ortlund name. I kept reading because of the way Dane so expertly draws you in and makes his case for who Jesus is, not just what he did during his time on earth. It’s personal, yet not fluffy: if you love theology, you’ll love it, but if you’re drawn to the relational element of faith, you’ll love it, too.
One Thing Differently:
Perhaps the strongest challenge in the book is the lack of an “action item” at the end, and that’s the point. Reading this book convicted me of how focused I can be on productivity and checking things off the list or making changes in my life, even if they’re seemingly good things, rather than simply resting—abiding—in Christ. By better understanding the character of Jesus, I can feel permission to just rest in who he is, knowing this life isn’t always about doing, but sometimes it’s about being.
Streets of Laredo, by Larry McMurtry
I read this one a few months after finishing Lonesome Dove because as soon as I found out there were more books with some of my new favorite literary characters, I had to read them, too.
Considered the second book in the Lonesome Dove saga, this title continues with the complex and real life of characters in the West, albeit a slightly less wild version than we experienced in the first book. It’s more than a few years later, and while I can’t spoil the plot, I must admit I was disappointed that certain characters no longer made an appearance. Yet, McMurtry doesn’t disappoint as he continues to explore ideas of humanity, the decisions we make, and the consequences those choices have.
I picked it up because I fell in love with the saga; my surprise was at how different it felt to read the hard copy than to listen, as I had done with the first book. I’d never switched media with an author before, and it took me a few chapters to get used to the writing style when I was reading it on my own rather than listening to a voice actor. Yet, once I got into it, I was hooked, as I expected. McMurtry is no fan of rose-colored glasses, so I found myself often a little on edge; you never know when he’s going to decide that one of the characters you’re attached to is going to meet an unfortunate end. Still, his willingness to lay out the difficulties of real life in such a matter-of-fact yet simultaneously thoughtful way, keeps you from losing hope.
One Thing Differently:
This book reminds us, in a very raw way, that none of us are invincible: not even our heroes. I’m reminded to exercise more humility in my own behavior and more awareness of my desire to place others on pedestals they were never built for.
Guest Review: What Hath God Wrought, by Daniel Walker Howe
This week’s review is from another writer and reader who has taught me much: my older sister, Martha Hoffman Kerestes. She listened to this book last fall, and we’ve had a number of conversations about how much she enjoyed it. Read on for her take!
This hefty tome (it was about 33 hours as an audiobook) is a well-written, engaging look at U.S. history from 1815-1848, covering politics to technology to culture and more, and it’s fascinating just how much the country changed in just over three decades. For example, the book starts with the end of the War of 1812, which saw its final battle (The Battle of New Orleans...cue Johnny Horton’s song) fought after the treaty to end the war was signed, since communications and travel were so slow. Before the book ends, the telegraph and railroads have come onto the scene, a complete transformation in the way that news is shared and people move across the growing country.
I don’t know that I’ve ever read a better history book (and that’s one of my favorite genres). You get a look at the big picture as well as diving into the different threads that make up the whole. And it’s not just a list of what happened and when — you understand the perspectives, motives, and circumstances of the people living in that era. I think both serious history buffs and more casual history-curious people would enjoy and find value in it.
If I remember correctly, I first heard about this book when it came up in a Libby app suggestion list of history-related books. I was intrigued because it covered a span of U.S. history I wasn’t as familiar with, and it was worth finishing because it gave so much context and insight into the rest of U.S. history all the way to today.
There is so much in this book that has broadened my perspective. The context it gave me has increased my appreciation of other history-related books I’ve read since. I hadn’t realized just how important that little swath of U.S. history was to setting the stage for future decades!
About Martha:
I’m a farmer in north-central Illinois and managing editor for Graze magazine, a publication for rotational grazing livestock producers.
I’ve long appreciated Miriam’s insights and perspectives (as she’s my sister:)), and I was an early subscriber when she started The Next Step.
Have a book you’d like to share with us? Send me an email or a message with your review, following the template below:
1) Title and author of the book, and when you read it (recent is better but it doesn’t have to be this year).
2) A few sentences to let us know the general premise of the book. Genre/target audience would be helpful here, too. (Fiction and non-fiction are both welcome!)
3) What made you pick it up, and why was it worth finishing?
4) What is your “One Thing Differently” from the book? It can be a tangible change you’ve made to your life as a result, or simply something you look at differently or more deeply than you did before reading it.
5) Share a couple of sentences about who you are, and how you found your way to The Next Step.